Method and apparatus for making fastening strips



Sept. 19, 1944. 2,358,689

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FASTENING STRIPS R. DIASH'ER 2 Shees-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1943 Fig. 2

INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY p 1944; R. DASHER I 2,358,689

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FASTENING STRIPS Filed July-8, 1943 '2 Sheets-She et 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 19, 1944 METHOD APPARATUSTFOR MAKING FASTENING STRIPS Richard Dasher, New York, N. Y., assignor to L. lVL Rabinowitz & Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York r S Application July 8, 1943, Serial No. 493,952

9' Claims.

This invention relates'to' a method and appa .ratus formaking loop-fasteners for garments or ,thelike. 1 Loop-fasteners are widely used in garments and generally consist in a piece or strip of any suitable material forming the body of the fastener and provided. with a plurality of loops arranged longitudinally of the strip at spaced intervals and projecting laterally therefrom, the strip'being attached to one end of a garment with the loops projecting from the edge thereof for engagement with a series of cooperating means such-as buttons, hooks, or the like, opportunely arranged on the opposite end of the garment.

In the types of loop-fasteners heretofore commonly used, the loops are secured to the body of the fastener by weaving, knitting or interbraiding portions of the loop-forming material with the body of the fastener, or the body of the fastener isfolded over upon itself and portions ,ofithe loop-forming material are inserted in the fold to be secured therein by lines of stitching. Whatever the method used, the formation of the fastener is somewhat complicated and involves a number of separately performed operations, the resulting product being therefore relatively expensive.

It is the general object of this invention toprovide a method and apparatus whereby a loopfastener for garments or the like, particularly for womens garments such as brassires and the like, may be made in a simple and inexpensive manner.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a loop-fastener that consists of a base strip of fabric or other suitable material upon which there is superimposed a loop-forming tape secured to the base strip by lines of stitching,

the loops being formed by guiding the tape upon the strip to project therefrom at spaced intervals, and the tape being secured to the base strip during the process of formation of the loops, so that a complete fastener can be produced in a single operation and in a fraction of the time that would be otherwise required.

22 of support l9.

sewing machine and means cooperating therewith.

Figure 2-is a front elevation of the same apparatus. V

Figure 3 is a plan view. of a fragment of loopfastener made by means of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2. a v Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown inFigures 1 and 2. v

Figure 5"is'ahorizontal sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2 and showing, on a greater scale, part of the means for formingthe loopsand a fragment of 'a' completed loop-fastener; Y Referring now in detail to the drawings, l0 denotes a conventional double-needle sewing machine having 'presser foot I l and needleslZ, I2a.- A strip l3 of any suitable material (the edges whereof may be oppositely folded over,

as can be seen in Figure 3) is fed to machine In through guide It to advance in the direction of the arrows (see'Figure 2) during operation of the machine. r

Aguiding memberl5, provided with an eye forthe passage of tape l6 (which will form the loopsin the manner that will later become apparent) is fastened to the forward end of an armW-I, the other'end whereof is fastened to spindle l8 slidably mounted in a stationary member or support l9 secured to the base of machine HL-spindle l8 and arm I! being normally held in the position shown in Figure 4 by coil spring 2fi'mounted'between pin-2| of spindle l8 and pin Stud 23 mounted on'spindle l8 slidably, engages slotted end 24 of a lever 25, the other end whereof is pivoted on a support 26 and carries a member 21 to which there is fastened, as by means of screws 28, a lever 29 that projects from member 21 to bear against a cam 30. This latter is fastened to a worm wheel 3 l meshing with worm 32 of shaft 33 jour naled at 34, 35,15 and drivably connected to the driving'means'of sewing machine In.

As it will be readily understood, at each revolution of worm wheel 3| cam 30 causes the end of lever 29 to 'move from its position nearest to center'of worm wheel 3| (which is shown in 'Figure 4 and may be called normal position) in against the action of spring 20, and to shift in the direction of strip 13 to position 18' so that arm I1 and guide I5 will assume positions I1 and I5, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. Coil spring returns all parts to their initial position as soon as cam allows lever 29 to move back to its normal position nearest the center of worm wheel 3|.

There is provided on worm wheel 3| a further cam 31 having a flat upper face and oppositely inclined lateral faces adapted to lift rapidly a pin 38 projecting from an eccentric 39 mounted on spindle 4U rotatably supported at 4|, 42. Pin 38 normally rests on worm wheel 3| and can pass under cam 30 and lever 29 when not lifted by cam 31.

A block 43 is eccentrically fastened to spindl '46 at the end thereof opposite to eccentric 39 and is provided with a pin 44 whereon there is pivoted a block 45 which carries elbow shaped blade 46 projecting therefrom in the directionof the needles of the machine with its tip close to presser foot II and in a slightly higher plane than strip I3. Coil spring 41 is connected to a bracket 48 secured to the head of machine l0, and to pin 44, normally holding blocks 43, 45 and blade 46 in the position described and shown in Figure 2; V

It is clear that whenever cam 31 lifts pin 38 during operation of the machine, block 43 is obliged to swing in the direction of the needles of the machine and block 45 and blade'46 will advance in the same direction, the dimension and form of the'parts being so calculated. as to bring the tip of blade 46 to the position shown in Figure 5, for the purpose that will later become apparent; spring 41 that has been stretched during the swinging movement of block 43, rapidly returns all parts to their initial position as soon as pin 38 has passed over the flat upper face of cam 31. The apparatus also comprises a stationary blade 49 secured to the base of machine I0 and extending over strip I3 at an angle with the axis thereof with its tip close to needle I2a, as shown in Figures 2 and 5; the function of this blade will become later apparent.

The manner in which the loop-fastener is formed will now be described and will be readily understood.

Let ussuppose that machine In is running so that strip I3 is passing under needles I2, I 2a, and, further, that a portion of the loop-fastener has already been formed (as shown in Figure 5) so that tape I6, guide member I5 and arm I1 are in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5 that will be called "normal position. To this position of said elements there corresponds a normal position of lever 29 wherein said lever is closest to the center of worm wheel 3|. As the machine is running and worm wheel 3| is operatively connected to the driving means of the-machine, cam 30 will soon begin to move the end of lever 29, which is hearing against said cam, in the direction of the periphery of Worm wheel 3|, thereby causing spindle I8 to slide in support I9, and arm I1 and guide I5 to-move to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. Tape B is therefore led across strip I3 along a line close to the edge of presser foot II and to needles I2, I'Za, and, as a portion of the tape has been previously sewed to strip I3 and this latter is advancing under presser foot II, tape I6 will be caused to follow closely the edge of presser foot II and to pass under the tip of stationary blade 49 which cooperates to hold the tape in the proper position. While tape I6 is led across strip. l3 in the-manner dedescribed, to the position shown in Figure 5 V wherein its tip extends over tape I6 intermediate guide I5 and presser foot II, the movement of blade 46 being completed in the short interval during which cam 30 allows guide I5 to remain in position I5.

As soon as the movement of blade '46 has been completed, cam 30 allows lever 29 to return to its initial position; therefore guide I5 shifts back to its initial position leaving tape I 6 to engage the tip of blade 46 and to fold upon itself to form loop 50, which projects laterally of strip I 3, and to cross again strip I3 along the edge of presser foot Pin 38 is then allowed by cam 38 to return to its normal position and blade 46 is therefore quickly disengaged from the loop of tape I 6, and this latter is allowed to pass under needle I2, IZa to be stitched to strip I3.

Cams 3|] and 31 are so arranged on worm wheel 3| that after guide l5 has returned to its normal position, there follows an intervalduring which both cams remain inoperative and both lever 29 and pin 38 remain in their normal position; therefore tape I6 is caused for a while to follow a path substantially parallel to the side edge of strip I3, as shown at 5| in Figure 5, until cam 3| again shifts lever 29 toward the periphery of worm wheel 3|, and guide I5 is again moved to position I5 as p eviously described.

It will be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the exact means herein set forth, and that many modifications may be made in the method and in the apparatus described without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A method for making loop-fasteners comprising superimposing a tape upon a strip of fabric moving in one direction and leading said tape angularly of said fabric strip to project later ally of one of the side edges of said strip, sewing the transversely superimposed portion of said tape to said strip, whereby said portion of the tape is caused to advance in the direction of the movement of the strip, folding the projecting portion of said tape upon itself to form a loop laterally of the strip and leading the same to traverseag-ain said strip, sewing said further transversely superimposed portion of said tape to said strip, in substantially parallel close relation to the previously formed transverse portion of the tape, and repeatedly performing these operations at fixed intervals.

2. In apparatus for making loop-fasteners com- 7 prising a sewing machine wherein a strip of fabric is advancing in one direction, means for guiding a tape to traverse said strip, in superimposed relation thereto, and to project laterally therefrom, means for engaging the projecting portion of said tape, means for guiding said tape to fold about said tape-engaging means and to traverse again said strip in an opposite direction, and means for actuating said tape-guiding means and said tape-engaging means at fixed intervals.

3. Apparatus for making loop-fasteners comprising a sewing machine, a member adapted to receive and to guide a tape, said member being movable transversely of a strip of fabric advancing in said sewing machine between a normal position and a position wherein said member is located laterally of one of the side edges of said strip, means for moving said member from said normal position to said last mentioned position, to cause said tape to traverse said strip and to project laterally of one of the side edges thereof, and for returning said member to its normal position to cause said tape to traverse again said strip, means for engaging the projecting portion of said tape and causing said tape to fold upon itself to form a loop during the return of the movable member to its normal position, and

means for actuating at fixed intervals the means that move said tape-guiding member.

4. Apparatus for making loop-fasteners comprising a sewing machine, a member adapted to receive and to guide a tape, said member being movable transversely of a strip of fabric advancing in said machine between a normal position and a position wherein said member is located laterally of one'of the side edges of said strip, means for moving said member from said normal position to said last-mentioned position, to cause the tape to traverse said strip and to project later-ally of one of the side edges thereof, and for returning said member to its normal position, to cause said tape to traverse again said strip, means for engaging the projecting portion of said tape and causing said tape to fold upon itself to form a loop during the return of the movable member to its normal position, and means operatively connected to the driving means of the sewing machine for actuating the means that move said tape-guiding member.

5. Apparatus for making loop-fasteners comprising a sewing machine, a member adapted to guide a tape, said member being movable transversely of a strip of fabric advancing in said machine between a normal position and a position wherein said member is located laterally of one of the side edges of said strip, means for moving said member from said normal to said last mentioned-position and for returning the same to said normal position, to cause said tape to traverse said strip and to project laterally of one of the side edges thereof and to traverse again said strip, a further member movable longitudinally of said strip in spaced relation to the adjacent side edge thereof from a normal position to a position wherein it engages the laterally projecting portion of said tape during the return of the tape-guiding member to its normal position, to cause the tape to fold upon itself and to form a loop, means for moving said further movable member, and means operatively connected to the driving means of the sewing machine for actuating at fixed intervals the means that move said tape-guiding and said tape-engaging member.

6. Apparatus for making a loop-fastener comprising a sewing machine, a member adapted to' receive and to guide a tape, said member being. movable transversely of a strip of fabric advancing in said machine between two positions wherein said member is located laterally of the side edges of said strip, means for moving said member in opposite directions between said two positions, to cause the tape to traverse the strip in opposite directions and to project alternately laterally of the side edges thereof, means for engaging the portion of the tape projecting laterally of one of said side edges of the strip, to cause the tape to fold upon itself and form a loop during its movement transversely of the strip toward the other side edge thereof, and means for actuating the means that move said tapeguiding member at fixed intervals during operation of the sewing machine.

'7. Apparatus for making loop-fasteners comprising a sewing machine, a member adapted to guide a tape, said member being movable transversely of a strip of fabric advancing in said machine betweena normal position and a position wherein said member is located laterally of one of the side edges of said strip, means for moving said member from said normal to said last mentioned position and for returning the same to said normal position, to cause said tape to traverse said strip and to project laterally of one of the side edges thereof and to traverse again said strip, a further member movable longitudinally of said strip in spaced relation to the adjacent side edge thereof from a normal position to a position wherein it engages the laterally projecting portion of said tape during the return of the tape-guiding member to its normal position, to cause the tape to fold upon itself and to form a loop, means for moving said further member to the position wherein it engages said tape as soon as the tape-guiding member has reached the position wherein it is located laterally of one of the side edges of said strip and for returning said further member to its normal position as soon as the tape-guiding member has returned to its. normal position, and means operatively connected to the driving means of the sewing machine for actuating at fixed intervals the means that move said further movable member and the means that move said tape-guiding member.

8. A method of making loop-fasteners comprising moving a strip in one direction, simultaneously guiding a tape to traverse said strip substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis thereofand to project laterally of said strip, folding the projecting portion of the tape upon itself to form a loop laterally of the strip and guiding the tape to traverse again the strip in the opposite direction, repeatedly performing said operations at fixed intervals to produce a plurality of spaced loops projecting laterally of the strip, and simultaneously forming continuous lines of stitching passing through the strip and the tape, to secure this latter to the strip and to define the base of the loops.

9. A method of making loop-fasteners of the character described, which comp-rises moving a strip of fabric in one direction, simultaneously guiding a tapeto traverse said strip and to project laterally of one of the longitudinal edges thereof, folding the projecting portion of the tape upon itself to form a loop, guiding the tapeto traverse again the strip in substantially parallel relation to the previously formed transverse portion of the tape and toproject laterally of the opposite longitudinal edge of the strip, repeatedly performing said operations at fixed intervals to form a plurality of loops alternately projecting laterally of the longitudinal edges of the strip,

and simultaneously forming continuous lines of stitching passing through the tape and the strip adjacent said longitudinal edges of this latter.

RICHARD DASI-IER. 

